PGD / PGS

LifeQuest Manages More PGD/PGS Cycles Than Any Other Fertility Clinic In Canada

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) and Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS), are genetic tests that help identify embryos suitable for transfer back to the uterus in an IVF cycle. The term “PGD” is often used as a catch-all phrase for all cases where a cell is removed from an embryo for genetic testing prior to placing or transferring the embryo back to the uterus.

The Difference Between PGD and PGS

Those patients with a known genetic abnormality, such as a single gene defect, undergo PGD. Those for whom this technology is a tool to help screen embryos for an abnormal number of chromosomes (as in the case of women over the age of 38 or with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss) are said to be having screening done, hence the use of the term Preimplantation Genetic Screening/PGS.

For whom is PGD/PGS appropriate?

• Women of advanced maternal age (>38years)

• Couples with a history of unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (miscarriage).

• Couples with a history of a previous pregnancy that was found to be chromosomally abnormal. 

• Couples where at least one partner has a known genetic defect (such as cystic fibrosis, Tay Sachs, myotonic dystrophy, etc) that has previously been identified.

• Couples where at least one partner has a specific chromosomal rearrangement known as a translocation.

• Couples who desire an HLA-matched sibling for a living child requiring a bone marrow transplant.

To read more about this topic please see the accompanying article in the LifeQuest newsletter: What is PDG / PGS?